The Washington critic., 1887-11-10
WASHINGTON, NOV. 10, 1887.
UNITED LABoE,s REACTION.

The leaders of the Labor party in
Ohio are said to be greatly discouraged
over the results Of Tuesdays election.
and they have small reasons for elation
In New York.
The reason does not lie In the fact
that the workingmen have no case be.
fore the people,
All right minded citizens admit that
they have certain grievances which
deserve redress; that they desire GER
tain reforms which are reasonable and
just, and that they have the same right
10 organize for the better promotion of
their interests that is possessed aud
exercised by others.
We have always felt that the ends
they seek could be more eXpeaitiously
and effectively secured through existing
parties than by an Independent politi
cal organization of their own. But
this Is not the poiut. They thought
differently and were honest in so think
ing. Why is It that the movement is
after all SO barren Of resultsY Why Is
II to day so much further than ever
from successY
One answer, which means great
deal, is to be found in the fact that the
presCn nj Administration has, In a very
large degree, the confidence of the
country, and although 1t has never
specifically befriended or sought to
befriend the cause of the worklngmen,
the latter, in common with all other
good citizens, feel that the public inter
ests are In safe hands. They have failed
TO obtain from either Of the great par.
ties, when in power, the direct legisla.
tion to which, In various forms, they
believe themselves entitled; but the out.
look for relief is certainly as encour.
aging from an administration which Is
studiously considering the general good
of the people as 1t possibly could be
from any administration not of their
own immediate selection.
Having but remote and uncertain
prospect, moreover, of obtaining au
assured ascendancy either In Congress
or any of the State Legislatures, thou
sands Of members of the labor organiza.
tions have doubtless come to the con.
clusion that 1t is better to wait, even
upon the slow motions Of the party in
power, than to waste their energies In
an unavailing struggle for independent
supremacy.
Hence the readiness of evidently a
large number of these men to return to
the ranks from which they were prln.
cipally recruited, when the Issues were
squarely presented to them on Tuesday
last, as In New York, between an Ad
ministration that has acquitted itsell
Creditably at Washington and the op
position that was voted out of office IL
1854, on the principle that the Gov
eminent and the people needed {
wholesome change.
1t should certainly now become til,
just and grateful policy of the Demo
cratic party in Congress and elsewhere
10 see that the reaction is recognized
and stimulated by such legislation a
will meet all the reasonable demands o
the United Labor organizations.
Another reason for the obvious de
fiction In the Henry George vote ma,
be trace d to the peculiar social condI
tions of the times and the CROWN
sentiment that the success Of tn
Government, with which is intimatel
associated the welfare Of the people
depends very largely upon the unaniu
iiy of its support by the country
that under present circumstances, me-
political experiments are hazardous
and, that, strong as the tendency ha
been to throw off old party ties an
enter upon untried ventures, the spiri
Of conservative loyalty to th
Government is stronger still an
destined TO triumphantly reassel
itself.
There have been serious discord
and divisions also In the labor organ
izations that have tended to MATERIAL
weaken their cohesiveness. In som
instances the honesty Of the judiciar
has been assailed and Its decisions pr
to contempt, because of their antae
onism to conspiracies against civ
rights. In certain quarters are hear
emphatic expressions of sympathy wit
men convicted of high crimes and mi
demeanors, and the apprehensions c
well.meaning and patriotic citizens al
naturally quiokened to sense {
danger and the necessity of erectln
stronger bulwarks against the machini
tions of the visionary or sediiious.
Thus 1t is that the following {
Henry George, as candidate for Mayo
approaching nearly 10000 in the Gil
of New York, shows up TO day vii
such marked depletion of its streng
and among the clear headed workin
men OF the State at large refuses
acccp, his fallacious theories.
Mr.. NIcoLL, late candidate for Di
trict.Attorney In New York, hears h
defeat phllosophically, 1t is sal
That's good way 10 bear such thing
But philosophical abstention fro
such political predlcaments is bette
lie attributes his defeat to what
calls the "fact" that machine Irule
stronger in politics than the actu
desires of the public In other word
the people wanted Mr., Nicoll electe
but allowed him to be beaten. Il
facts are paradoxes. The result sho'
that the people wanted Mr.. Fello'
elected
THE Boston Herald reads the Dem
cratic managers Of Massachusetts sc
eral wholesome lessons upon their oy,